401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 202, 1Feb 1945, Ludwigshaven, Germany. Briefing took place at 0515 hours. Loading was twelve 500 pound GP's and two M17IB's. Assembly to be at 19,000 feet. At 0840, during Group takeoff, a B-17 piloted by Lt. F. E. Babcock, suffering a malfunction, ran off the runway and continued beyond the perimeter track. The aircraft was only slightly damaged and the crew, who were not injured, transferred to a ground spare and were airborne by 0947 hours. Three aircraft were forced to abort, and one spare also returned early. All other operational aircraft had landed by 1748 hours. The 401st again provided the three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group. Because of cloud cover over the target, the target was attacked by the Lead and Low Squadrons using Gee-H (radio beam) means. Because the High Squadron experienced a Gee-H failure on the bomb run, the Squadron attacked the target of last resort at Pferzheim by PFF (radar) technique. No German fighers were encountered, and the meager flak caused only minor damage to five aircraft.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 215, 25 Feb 1945, Munich, Berlin. Briefing took place at 0330 hours. Aircraft loading was six 500 pound RDX's plus 6 M17 IB's. Assembly at 7,500 feet at Cottesmore Buncher. At 0730 hours Flying Control noted: "All aircraft airborne in dark takeoff. Good show." Three of the ships were forced to abort, two with propellers feathered. The 401st again put up three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group. The primary target, the marshalling yards at Munich, were bombed visually. While a great deal of smoke from bombs dropped by preceding groups covered the area, which was also well camoflaged, strike photos indicated that the Group's bombs had hit in the target area, with results classified as good to excellent. There was no enemy air opposition. Flak over the target was moderate but generally inaccurate and caused no damage. However, the Group ran into accurate flak bursts over the German border resulting in damage to eleven aircraft. By 1703 hours all but three aircraft had returned from the mission, the three having landed at other bases because they were running low on fuel. The last of the three landed back at Deenthorpe at 1757 hours.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 212, 22 Feb 1945, Ludwigslust, Germany. Briefing took place at 0445 hours, and all operational aircraft were off by 0905 hours. As there were no aborts, the three spares returned early, and the remainder of the Group had landed by 1629 hours. Taking advantage of good weather and failing German defenses, the 8th Air Force went in at an altitude of between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, rather than the usual 25,000 feet, in a major attack on German road and rail communications facilities known as Operation Clarion. The three squadrons provided by the 401st made up the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group. All three squadron bombardiers hit their MPI's, recording an excellent result in each case. No flak or enemy fighters were encountered.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 210, 20 Feb 1945, Nurnberg, Germany. Group briefing took place at 0500 hours. Aircraft loading was eighteen 250 pound G.P.'s and 2,780 gallons of gas. All 40 aircraft were off on the mission by 0848 hours, Flying Control noting "Slow taxying but good takeoff." One ship aborted and two spares also returned early. All operational aircraft had returned by 1649 hours. On this mission the entire 8th Air Force attacked the Railway Station and marshalling yards at Nurnburg in order to interdict the flow of men and supplies being rushed by the Germans in an attempt to halt the advancing Russian Army. The 401st provided three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group. Solid undercast again necessitated bombing by PFF (radar) technique, but an exceptionally good run was made. A momentary break in the clouds permitted observation of strikes on the city. No enemy aircraft appeared, and none of the 401st ships sustained battle damage, although moderate flak was experienced over the target area.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 208, 15 Feb 1945, Dresden, Germany. The Group was briefed at 0400 hours. Aircraft loading was eighteen 250 pound G.P.'s and 2,780 gallons of gas. At 0705 several loud explosions were heard southeast of the field, and at 0750 Flying Control was advised that two aircraft from Chelveston had crashed into a living site in that town. Ambulances, crash crews and M.P.'s were rushed from Deenethorpe to the scene of the crash. All 401st operational aircraft were airborne by 0805 hours. After takeoff one ship reported No 4 engine out and No. 1 engine missing and was able to land at Cottesmore. Four other ships also returned early and were also diverted to other airfields because of low visibility at Deenthorpe. This was a repeat of the previous day's mission, to interdict railroad facilities critical to the German army retreating before the Russian advance. On this mission, the 401st provided three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group. Because of a complete undercast, bombing was conducted by PFF (radar) technique, with unobaserved results. There was no enemy air opposition, and no flak over the target. Meager and inaccurate flak was encountered en route at Frankfurt and Brux, but no 401st ship sustained battle damage. By 1700 hours, 34 operational aircraft had landed at Deenthorpe upon returning from the mission despite a ceiling of only 400 feet and visibility of 3,000 yards. Three others landed at other bases.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 206, 10 Feb 1945, Dulmen, Germany. Briefing took place at 0445 hours. Aircraft loading was six 1,000 pound G.P.'s. and 2,500 gallons of gas. Assembly to be at 21,500 feet. After briefing, taxi and takeoff times were delayed by one hour and then delayed indefinitely, with crews ordered to stand by in their dispersals. Finally, takeoff was ordered for 0945 hours, and all operational aircraft were airborne by 1037 hours. All ships had returned by 1719 hours except one aircraft that landed at Halesworth with engine trouble. The 401st furnished three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing (C) Group. The primary target, a tactical target in Wesel, Germany, was to be bombed only by visual sighting. As cloud cover foreclosed that possibility, the Group bombed the secondary target at Dulmen by Gee-H means, with no results observed or photographed. No enemy air opposition or flak were encountered.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 205, 9 Feb 1945, Lutzkendorf (Primary) Eisenach (T.O.) Germany. The Group was briefed at 0530 hours. Aircraft loading was ten 500 pound GP's and 2,780 gallons of gas. One aircraft, on takeoff, could not unlock its tailwheel u and went off the runway, necessitating a change from Runway 23 to Runway 28. All aircraft were airborne by 0945 hours. Gale warnings were received at 1340 hours, with winds of 50 miles per hour. By 1755 hours, all operational aircraft had returned except three which landed at other bases in England or on the Continent. The 401st provided the three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group on this mission. The target was covered by 8/10's to 10/10th's clouds, but the Lead and Low Squadrons bombed through breaks in the clouds. While the Lead Squadron's photos were obscured by clouds, photos indicated that the Low Squadron's bombs landed in the area of the assigned MPI. The High Squadron was unable to pick up the target but made an excellent PFF (radar) run on a target of last resort, with only partially observed results. No enemy air opposition was encountered by the bomber force, although Allied fighters downed 24 German aircraft. Flak was meager to moderate and resulted in minor damage to seven aircraft. One ship (44-6113) piloted by Lt. Richard R. Scheller, forced landed on the Continent and was abandoned.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 204, 6 Feb 1945, Giessen (T.O.) Eisfeld (T.O.) Germany. Briefing took place at 0415 hours. Aircraft loading was ten 500 pound GP's. During takeoff, one ship reported engine problems and was told to circle the field until called in. Another ship had a flat tire when in No. 3 in takeoff position. Within ten minutes the ship had been cleared from the runway, and takeoff proceeded. While the ship with engine trouble landed and the crew attempted to take off in a ground spare, they were unable to make the formation. One other aircraft was also forced to abort. Upon return fourteen ships were diverted to other airfields in England by bad weather, and two landed on the Continent. The 401st provided the three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group plus another squadron which flew with the 94th CW Composite "B" Group. Because the clear weather expected over Germany didn't materialize, one secondary and 13 targets of opportunity were attacked instead. Since bombing was by PFF (radar), no results were observed. No enemy fighters were encountered, but meager and accurate flak was met in two different places and caused minor battle damage to five aircraft. With regard to the two aircraft that landed on the Continent, the Group History remarks, "a weekend in Paris maybe?". In fact, the crews returned immediately.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 203, 3 Feb 1945, Berlin, Germany. Briefing took place at 0300 hours. Aircraft loading was ten 500 pound GP's and 2,780 gallons of gasoline. All aircraft were airborne by 0819; two aircraft were forced to abort, and one spare also returned early. By 1541 hours all but two aircraft had landed. The ship piloted by Lt. C. P. Djernes landed at Woodbridge with low fuel, brakes out and two wounded aircrew; the other ship, piloted by Lt. Myron L. King, was reported that have headed for Russian controlled territory after losing an engine over the target. The 401st put up three squadrons, making up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group on this mission. As the weather was clear, the target was bombed visually. While the target was obscured by the smoke and fire caused by bombs dropped by the preceding eight Groups, the 401st lead bombardiers used the RAF grid with outlying checkpoints to verify aiming points. The Lead and Low Squadrons were right on target and, while the High Squadron's bombs dropped short, they were still in the immediate area of the MPI. While no German fighters were encountered, the flak was heavy and accurate. Four aircraft received major battle damage and seventeen others suffered minor damage. Lt. Myron L. King, whose B-17 had lost an engine over the target, decided to fly eastward and landed successfully in Russian controlled territory. Only after weeks of inhospitable treatment by our Russian "allies", graphically described in the book, "Portrait of a Flying Lady" by George Menzel, was the crew able to return to Deenthorpe.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 216, 26 Feb 1945, Berlin, Germany. Briefing took place at 0500 hours, and by 0841 hours all 20 aircraft were off on the mission. Four spares returned early, and one aircraft aborted. On this mission the 401st was asked to put up a twelve aircraft squadron operating as a screening force for the 94th Combat Wing. The Group also provided six spares, three for Polebrook and three for Glatton, the other Groups making up the 94th Combat Wing. The screening force dropped 36,000 units of chaff over Berlin, as briefed, and returned without having encountered either enemy fighters or flak. Four of the spares assigned to the Polebrook and Glatton formations returned early as they were not needed to replace aborts, while the other two spares filled in and flew the mission.